Our members: vice-chancellors and principals
Our members are the vice-chancellors or principals (executive heads) of universities in the UK.
Our services to members include:
Members are invited to meet four times a year, including at the Members’ Annual Conference every September.
Universities UK is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status and is financed mainly through subscription from its member institutions.
Board
The 24-person Board is elected by our members. It includes the president; vice-presidents for Scotland, Wales, and England and Northern Ireland; the treasurer and the chairs of the Policy Networks. The president nominates up to six other members to serve on the board.
The board is our main decision-making body and meets five times a year. It focuses on UK-wide issues and those issues in the constituent nations of the UK that have UK-wide implications or interest.
Executive Committee
Our executive comprises the president, three vice-presidents and the treasurer. It meets four times a year and reports to the Board. It acts on behalf of the Board to support and advise the chief executive; to undertake day-to-day monitoring, coordinating, planning and liaison functions; and to authorise action as required between board meetings.
President
Our president is elected from and by the membership of Universities UK for two academic years and is only eligible for re-election by special resolution. The president chairs all Universities UK Members' Meetings, the Board and the Executive Committee.
The current President is Professor Dame Janet Beer, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, whose term of office began on 1 August 2017 and ends on 31 July 2019.
Senior management team
Alistair Jarvis is Chief Executive of Universities UK, and was appointed by the Board to be responsible for the day-to-day management and administration of Universities UK.
Alistair is supported by a senior management team.
Networks and groups
Our networks and groups guide the development of our policies. They are made up of vice-chancellors and work with external experts and contacts to promote universities' interests to a wide audience.
They build and strengthen links with government agencies, professional bodies, industry and commerce, other education sectors and international audiences.
The current networks are:
- Student (Chair: Professor Debra Humphris, University of Brighton)
- Research (Chair: Professor Paul Boyle CBE, University of Leicester)
- Funding (Chair: Professor Dame Glynis Breakwell DBE, University of Bath)
- Innovation and Growth (Chair: Professor Quintin McKellar CBE, University of Hertfordshire)
- International (Chair: Professor Sir Steve Smith, University of Exeter)
- Health Education and Research (Chair: Professor Alistair Fitt, Oxford Brookes University)
- Longer Term Strategy (Chair: Professor Paul O'Prey CBE, University of Roehampton)
- Teacher Education Advisory Group (Chair: Dr John Cater CBE, Edge Hill University)
-
Specialist Institutions Forum (Chair: Mr Nigel Carrington, University of the Arts London)
The networks report to the Board through each of the elected chairs.
